Building Codes & Permits
Building Codes
Building codes are standards created to ensure the structural safety of
buildings. They are established and enforced by your local government, usually
through your city or county's building department. Every state, county, and local
municipality has adopted their codes from one of the three nationally recognized
building codes: UBC (Uniform Building Code), BOCA (Building Officials and Code
Administrators), and CABO (Council of American Building Officials). The new IRC
(International Residential Code) is a combination of the other three. All are
very similar in content. However, many regions have additional, more stringent
regulations because of extreme weather or geographic conditions. If you live in
the earthquake-prone areas of the Pacific Coast or the hurricane risk areas of
the East Coast, Gulf Coast, or Nevada, the greater Chicago area, New Jersey,
or many parts of New York, be sure to inquire about the specifics of these
additional requirements.
Permits
Before you begin construction of your home, you'll need to obtain a building
permit by demonstrating with your house plan, and other documents, that your
new home will comply with all applicable building codes. Depending on where
you live, this can be a simple process of filling out a form, or it may
require additional steps if your area has established patterns of
hurricanes or earthquakes. Building departments in these high-risk
areas typically require you to hire a state-licensed structural
engineer to analyze your design and produce additional drawings
and calculations, which you include in your permit documentation.
Many areas have established energy codes. To comply with these
regulations, you usually fill out a short form. Also, many building
departments require a professional stamp from an engineer or architect
who is licensed in the state you plan to build your home. Most building
departments can give you a handout with a checklist of all the required
documentation for your permit.
Your House Plan
All house plans from Houseplans.com are designed to conform to the local
codes where the original house was constructed. For most areas of the country,
your house plan from Houseplans.com includes all the information (see What's Included)
you'll need to build your house-but not necessarily everything you need to obtain a
building permit. Excluding hurricane and earthquake requirements, you will need to
submit a site plan to show the house's placement on your property. For other local
requirements, you may, for example, need to resize beams to accommodate roof loads
specific to your area, or if your lot is not served by a sewer system, you may
need a septic design. Builders can usually help you obtain these documents because
they are familiar with local codes and permit process. If not, give us a call and
we'll help you find the information or professional assistance. If you need to
modify your house plan, hire only qualified personnel that can make the revisions
according to your local codes. It will save you time and money in the long term.
The Fine Print
All construction drawings, products, or services ordered through Homeplan, Inc., and
its subsidiaries, Houseplans.com, and ProHouseplans.com, are provided as is. Homeplan,
Inc., is not liable for incidental, consequential, special, or indirect damages of any
kind, including, but not limited to, loss of anticipated profits, business opportunity,
or other economic loss arising out of the use of services, products, or construction
drawings received from Homeplan, Inc., even if Homeplan, Inc., has been advised of
the possibility of such damage. In the event that any liability is imposed on
Homeplan, Inc., or its subsidiaries, Homeplan, Inc., liability to you or any third party
shall not exceed the price paid to Homeplan, Inc., for its product or service.
|
